I.having or keeping a proper measure, moderate (cf. mediocris); esp. in behavior, modest, temperate; also, of size, moderate-sized; middling, ordinary, mean, bad (class.; syn.: moderatus, mediocris).
I. In a good sense: “modico gradu ire,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 19: “potiones,” Cic. Div. 1, 51, 115: “convivia,” id. Sen. 13, 44: “severitas,” id. ib. 18, 65: “industrios, supplices, modicos esse,” Sall. J. 85, 1: “domi modicus,” id. ib. 63, 2: “modicum quoddam corpus (historiae),” a book of a tolerable size, Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 4: “amant (mala) modicas rigationes,” gentle, moderate, Pall. 3, 25, 14.—
II. In a disparaging sense, middling, ordinary, mean, scanty, small, etc.: “genus dicendi subtile in probando, modicum in delectando,” Cic. Or. 21, 69: “oculi,” middling-sized, Plin. 11, 37, 53, § 141: “ea, valde et modica, et illustria sunt,” few in number, Cic. de Or. 2, 32, 137: “Graecis hoc modicum est,” not frequent, id. Fin. 2, 19, 62: “pecunia,” little, scanty, id. Par. 6, 2, 47: “acervus,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 190: “incrementa,” small, Just. 7, 1: “tempus,” short, Quint. 1, 2, 12: “rem pateris modicam,” a trifling affliction, Juv. 13, 143: “modici amici,” humble, poor, id. 5, 108.—With gen.: “Sabinus modicus originis,” Tac. A. 6, 39: “virium,” Vell. 1, 12, 4: “pecuniae,” Tac. A. 3, 72: “voluptatum,” id. ib. 2, 73. —As subst.: mŏdĭcum , i, n. (sc. spatium), a little way: “modicum progredi,” a little, App. M. 6, p. 180, 38: modico contentus. Juv. 9, 9.—Also, in abl., modico adverbially: “modico deinde regressa,” i. e. after a short time, App. M. 1, p. 112, 20: “modico prius, quam Larissam accederem,” a short time before, id. ib. p. 105 med.: “modico secus progredi,” to go a little farther, id. ib. p. 112, 10.—Hence, adv.: mŏdĭcē , with moderation, moderately; modestly; in a proper manner; also, in an ordinary manner, meanly, poorly (class.).
1. Modice hoc faciam, Cic. Fam. 4, 4, 4: “dolorem modice ferre,” quietly, calmly, id. Tusc. 1, 46, 111; id. Phil. 11, 3, 7: “se recipere,” quietly, in good order, Liv. 28, 15: verecunde et modice, Enn. ap. Non. 342, 23 (Trag. v. 241 Vahl.): “modice et modeste vitam vivere,” Plaut. Pers. 3, 1, 18: “dicere,” Cic. Sull. 29, 80: “modice et scienter uti re aliquā,” id. de Or. 1, 29, 132.—
2. Slightly, not very, not much: “minae Clodii modice me tangunt,” Cic. Att. 2, 19, 1: “modice vinosus,” Liv. 41, 4: “locuples,” id. 38, 14, 9: “modice instratus torus,” slightly, meanly, scantily, Suet. Aug. 73.
